Raine

Congratulations! I do it every chance I get now LOL, just cause I can!

My friend, you are looking so wonderful!! I am happy that you are recovering nicely. Even though you can't do upper body, work those legs girl LOL. Squat, lunge, squat, lunge . You will be fine, I have never met a single individual as determined as you. So happy for you!

I have to say that I am very proud of my doctor. I hear all these things where horrible complications and mishaps happened with the band and how many people were not informed that these things could possibly happen. My doctor is who did the seminar when I had to go. He went over every single complication that could possibly happen with every procedure. With the band he talked about the erosion, slippage, the fills and unfills, all of it. He did not candy coat anything with any of the procedures at all.

I too had internal bleeding and had to have two bags of blood put back in the old veins. I was in the hospital for 5 days instead of a day and 1/2. I was low on oxygen and had the beginings of pnemonia and had to be on a nebulizer for three days. All that being said, like most, I have lost the same 70-100 lbs too many times to count in my life time. I know how to eat healthy, and can do it, but this much ((())) is a healthy portion and this ((((((((((((((())))))))))))))) is not. So doesn't matter how healthy your food is if you can't help but eat way too much of it. I have not lost a lot of weight since the surgery and actually gained when I tried to quit smoking ... yet again. But what I did lose and this is the biggest reason for me doing this is 20 pills to 3 pills a day for all my different co-morbidities. My blood pressue is controlled, my diabeties is in remission, my cholesterol is almost normal and my triglycerides are under control. Would I do it again? Yes. Simply, yes. I hope I didn't scare you but the reality is that there are possibilities for complications, but do those complications out weigh the benefits in the end is what you have to ask your self and make that oh so very personal decision. Do all of your homework, all of your research, and not just about the sleeve, but of other possible solutions. You stated you have no health issues right now (thank goodness) but look at your family tree, are the issues there? Will you be another branch that contracts those issues later on in life? I am 44 and was hunky dory till I was 30, and that is when everything for me surfaced. Good luck on your decision. I wish you all the best.

That had to have you smiling ALL night long!

You can't see it but I am doing my happy dance for you!!! Ok, maybe its better that you don't see it LOL. Congratulations on GOAL!

Super NSV, congratulations. hahahah I bet that must have felt good.

My doc gave me the go ahead at 4 weeks to start kickboxing. I waited until 6 weeks just to make sure because I was still a little sore here and there. Don't start to hard too fast. Modify the class to suit your needs. ENJOY!

Thank you all. I went this morning and my son walked with me. I was there to support the climbers and there to pay tribute to my friends that were lost. I was so happy my son was there to hold my hand through it all. He doesn't remember but he was 4 when this happened and he went to get his Dad and told him the TV was broken because they were even telivising it on Cartoon Network. When he saw how upset his father was he rubbed his Dads back and said "Don't worry Daddy, its ok, the Power Puff Girls will come and save the day." Out of the mouths of babes.

Coops, you know I don't have to say how much you have helped me personally in my journey so far. I am on that boat of slow losers and sometimes I get down about it and you have inspired me on many an occasion to keep going and to stay positive. So that is what I have done and will continue to do. I am 20lbs from my surgeons goal and 30 from my personal *quit smoking* goal. I don't care how long it takes for the rest to come off just as long as it does and in the mean time I'm going to stay fit and work hard. Oh and btw, girlie, I WANT TO SEE PICS OF THE DRESS!!!! Ooops did I say that too loud? Oh well, had to make sure you heard that across the pond! Congratulations on all your success!

I waited 3 weeks to the day because that is what my doc said LOL and not a day more damnit!

NSV, non scale victory. Yes, these are the things that make us smile and jump and laugh and say hooorahhh! But I think they should also be reflections as well. This evening I was feeling a little antsy. So close to 9/11. As many of you know, I am from NYC. I basically grew up on Wall St. from the time I was 19 years old. Needless to say I lost a lot of people that day. I had just moved to Chicago a few months prior. When I was working in NY I worked in 1WTC92nd floor, I worked with these people that many I considered family, for 15 years. No one made it out that was in the office that morning. So, feeling antsy, I decided to take a walk, get out some nervous energy etc. I'm sure many of you have seen this before in the evening how the sun elongates your shadow, ha, even elongated, pre sleeve you could still see yourself as obese. Well, this evening I was walking and I saw my shadow and I looked normal. That in itself to me is amazing but right next to my shadow was the shadow of the two buildings behind me. It was so sureal, I tell you. I just stood there and stared and then silently cried. So where as the shadow itself is a NSV, but the overall experience was an NSV because where I would normally be jumping up and down, I was reminded of the people that accepted me just the way I was and only wanted me to be happy and healthy. So my reflection is that this journey is dedicated to them. On Sunday, @8:00 am the Fire Fighters of Charlotte are going to climb the stairs of the Duke building 2x to represent the 110 flights in the WTC. Each one will be wearing a picture of a fallen first responder. I am going to walk there to show my support to them and then walk home. About 5.5-6 miles total.

Simple fact: STALLS SUCK!!! Ok, I feel better now LOL. I am 4 1/2 months out and my first stall was from 2weeks to 6weeks. I was very upset about that. I tried to quit smoking after that time too and actually gained a total of 8lbs. Gave up that battle for another day. The lbs are moving now and slow, but I am at the last 20 to goal, so I don't expect 5-10 lbs to come off like magic anymore . But a true stall is when you are not losing pounds and not losing inches. Throughout I was losing inches. Stalls suck and then you stop stalling and everything is beautiful again. Then you will stall again and it will suck. Try to ride it through and keep working your sleeves, you will get through it!

1 down, 10 more to go! SN: Raine Starting Wt: 176 Current: 175 Goal: 165 Lbs to Goal: 10

I use the one from Target too but for the upper half, its like a tank top with the boobs cut out LOL. My middle is my problem area, I don't use it because it will help with the skin, I think my skin is shot at this point, but I do use it so it will hold things "together" around my middle and the underwear ones always roll down my belly. It makes me feel better if I can't see all the little imperfections that some clothes will show.

Amazing progress! You rocked your sleeve and it shows. Congratulations!

That has got to be the best feeling. I did that a month ago and just in time to not have to go shopping for work clothes! Now, well things are starting to sag a little. Congratulations!

I actually use Starbucks SF syrups Yum, only 7.95 a bottle and if you ask they'll give you a pump for it.

You look absolutely amazing! They came out fabulous!

I am a little over 4 months out: AM: Protein shake Mid Morning: Almonds or Atkins something or other Lunch: Grilled chicken w/salad; tuna with w/salad; bare burrito; bare burger; if too busy at work an Atkins Protein Bar Mid Afternoon: sometimes nothing sometimes Atkins Peanut Butter cups Dinner: what ever protein hubby makes for dinner w/ some veg Evening: Almonds; wheat thins or nothing I try to keep everything sauteed, grilled or baked.

I would get that tight feeling in the chest/top of the esophagus when I ate too much. You will get the hang of it, I promise!

Iron Mike ain't got nuthin on a Sleeve Sista! So says me! LOL

I bet you couldnt wipe the smile off of your face

Fantastic job! So happy for you!

For the first 2 weeks all I had were shakes, sf jello, sf ice pops and water. All day everyday.